Characterising and analysing benefits from integrated coastal management (ICM)

This paper outlines a methodology for the assessment of the net social benefits to be gained from the implementation of integrated coastal management (ICM). The methodological approach that is recommended is based on economic efficiency principles, and involves cost-benefit/cost-effectiveness analytical methods combined with scenario analysis. The economic efficiency rule is modified where necessary to account for other objectives by imposing constraints on the net benefit criterion. The basic approach has to be modified to fit the particular conditions, e.g. multiple resource outputs and competing resource demands, usually found in coastal zones. The approach can be illustrated by describing how it would be applied in the analysis of a prototype coastal system. Such a system has characteristics and modelled performance relationships based on real world contexts and data.